The Laws of the Middle Ages Calloway Cox The Middle Ages began in 476. The Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) had not ended yet so most of Europe was controlled by it. Feudalism began in about A.D. 900. Feudalism refers to the whole social class of the Middle Ages. The reason we know so much about Feudalism is because the laws were written down in A.D. 1100s and 1200s. Feudalism took a long time to develop. The term Feudalism was not used by the people back then but, it was invented by people afterward. Some people may say that the rule of Charlemagne helped develop Feudalism. During the Middle Ages people did not have an organized system of government. The way feudalism worked was that the land was divided into fiefs, small local units. One Lord of a fief would make friends with the Lord of other fiefs. That helped everyone live peacefully. Feudalism made violence and disorder bring safety. In the Middle Ages there was a higher achy. The lords and vassals (knights) made the laws for the serfs. The order on the higher archy was King, Warlord, Vassal, Noblemen, Lesser Noblemen, Serfs. Every single one of the people pledged loyalty to the king in some way. The serfs pledged they loyalty to the lesser noblemen. The lesser noblemen pledged they loyalty to the noblemen, the noblemen pledged they loyalty to a vassal, a vassal pledged loyalty to a warlord who pledged loyalty to the king. Warlords became vassals for a king. Warlords and Knights had a bond that was celebrated in ceremony. Kings used the bond with Warlords to get their fiefs homage and more power. In exchange for his service, a vassal got a fief of land. Finally at the bottom of the list were the serfs. Serfs lived in small villages near the Lord’s castle. They could never leave or get married without the Lord’s permission. If the land was taken over the serfs would come along with it and they would go with the new Lord. Serfs gave payment in food and labor for farming the Lord’s land. In exchange for that labor, they would get some land and protection. The serfs made a living by herding and farming. Even though serfs were never recognized as important, they were the back bone of society. They did the farming, cooking, supported Lords and Vassals. Serfs worked hard and got protection from Lords. In the 1300s, feudalism became extinct and was replaced by Kings and Queens. Serfs in France were not entirely free until the French Revolution. The feudal system helped trade and economy. It was the beginning of banking systems and parliaments. Resources “feudalism." Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 25 Apr. 2008
<http://school.eb.com/elementary/article?articleId=353125>. Hurwitz, Jane Feudalism. Logan, Iowa: Perfection Learning Corporation, 2003 “Castles In Medieval Times.”Owl & Mouse Education Software.25Apr . 2008 < http://www.yourchildlearns.com/castle_history.htm
Calloway Cox
The Middle Ages began in 476. The Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine Empire) had not ended yet so most of Europe was controlled by it. Feudalism began in about A.D. 900. Feudalism refers to the whole social class of the Middle Ages. The reason we know so much about Feudalism is because the laws were written down in A.D. 1100s and 1200s. Feudalism took a long time to develop. The term Feudalism was not used by the people back then but, it was invented by people afterward. Some people may say that the rule of Charlemagne helped develop Feudalism.
During the Middle Ages people did not have an organized system of government. The way feudalism worked was that the land was divided into fiefs, small local units. One Lord of a fief would make friends with the Lord of other fiefs. That helped everyone live peacefully. Feudalism made violence and disorder bring safety.
In the Middle Ages there was a higher achy. The lords and vassals (knights) made the laws for the serfs. The order on the higher archy was King, Warlord, Vassal, Noblemen, Lesser Noblemen, Serfs. Every single one of the people pledged loyalty to the king in some way. The serfs pledged they loyalty to the lesser noblemen. The lesser noblemen pledged they loyalty to the noblemen, the noblemen pledged they loyalty to a vassal, a vassal pledged loyalty to a warlord who pledged loyalty to the king. Warlords became vassals for a king.
Warlords and Knights had a bond that was celebrated in ceremony. Kings used the bond with Warlords to get their fiefs homage and more power. In exchange for his service, a vassal got a fief of land.
Finally at the bottom of the list were the serfs. Serfs lived in small villages near the Lord’s castle. They could never leave or get married without the Lord’s permission. If the land was taken over the serfs would come along with it and they would go with the new Lord. Serfs gave payment in food and labor for farming the Lord’s land. In exchange for that labor, they would get some land and protection. The serfs made a living by herding and farming. Even though serfs were never recognized as important, they were the back bone of society. They did the farming, cooking, supported Lords and Vassals. Serfs worked hard and got protection from Lords. In the 1300s, feudalism became extinct and was replaced by Kings and Queens. Serfs in France were not entirely free until the French Revolution. The feudal system helped trade and economy. It was the beginning of banking systems and parliaments.
Resources
“feudalism." Britannica Elementary Encyclopedia. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online School Edition. 25 Apr. 2008
<http://school.eb.com/elementary/article?articleId=353125>.
Hurwitz, Jane Feudalism. Logan, Iowa: Perfection Learning Corporation, 2003
“Castles In Medieval Times.” Owl & Mouse Education Software. 25 Apr . 2008
< http://www.yourchildlearns.com/castle_history.htm